Astronaut Candidate

Job Expired

Houston, Texas, United States

$152-152k

Full Time

a year ago

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Job description

Duties

Major duties of the astronaut position include, but are not limited to:

Conduct operations in space, including on the International Space Station (ISS) and in the development and testing of future spacecraft.
Perform extravehicular activities (EVA) around spacecraft, space stations, and on planetary surfaces, use the robotic remote manipulator system, and participate in the development and testing of future extravehicular and robotic activities.
Conduct research experiments (including those on animals), operate as a safe member of an aircraft/spacecraft crew (including flight planning and communications), and perform spacecraft maintenance activities.
Conduct ground support tasks for astronaut training spaceflight missions, such as CapCom (capsule communicator) in the Mission Control Center.
Participate in and be evaluated during mission simulations that prepare yourself and other astronauts to work as a well-coordinated team with the flight controllers in the Mission Control Center to conduct operations in the dynamic environment of space.
Support development and operation of human spaceflight programs or other agency efforts as directed.
Advocate for the interests and safety of all astronauts as part of decision-making teams considering current and future spacecraft designs, tests, and operations.
Serve as the public face of NASA, providing appearances across the country and internationally, and sharing NASA's discoveries and goals.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship Required
Frequent travel required
Financial disclosure statement required
Must meet all qualification/education and experience requirements by the closing date of the announcement. See announcement for more details on Test Pilot School completion
Applicants may only select ONE discipline group to apply under (See "Qualifications" section below)
Selectees will be designated Astronaut Candidates and will undergo a training and evaluation period lasting approximately two years
Applicants must submit ALL STEM related transcripts
See announcement for additional information on employment conditions

Qualifications

In order to meet minimum qualifications for this position, all applicants must meet BOTH the Basic Education and Specialized Experience requirements:

BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
All applicants must meet at least ONE of the Basic Education requirements to be considered for this position. Qualifying international Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is allowed as long as you submit proof of appropriate foreign education equivalency (see below for foreign education details).

To verify the education requirement, you must submit copies of official or non-official transcripts with your application showing a related STEM major field and date conferred, or Test Pilot School certification/enrollment from a nationally or internationally recognized program. While a bachelor's degree (or less) is not qualifying alone, you must submit ALL STEM related transcripts with your application.

The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the sciences, are NOT considered qualifying:

Degrees in Technology (Engineering Technology, Aviation Technology, Medical Technology, etc.)
Degrees in Psychology (except for Clinical Psychology, Physiological Psychology, or Experimental Psychology, which are qualifying)
Degrees in Nursing
Degrees in Exercise Physiology or similar fields
Degrees in Social Sciences (Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology, etc.)
Degrees in Aviation, Aviation Management, or similar fields

You must meet the Basic Education Requirement through one of the methods described below:

A. You must have completed a master's degree (or foreign equivalent) in an accredited college or university with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. (You must submit copies of official or non-official transcripts with your application showing major field and date degree was conferred.)

OR

B. You must have completed at least two years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) in an accredited Ph.D. or related doctoral degree program (or foreign equivalent) with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. (You must submit copies of official or non-official transcripts with your application showing major field of study and completed credit hours.)

OR

C. You must have completed an M.D., D.O. or related medical degree (or foreign equivalent) in an accredited college or university. (You must submit copies of official or non-official transcripts with your application showing date degree conferred.)

OR

D. You must have completed or be currently enrolled in a Test Pilot School program (nationally or internationally recognized) and will have completed this program by June 2025 (Must submit proof of completion or enrollment). If TPS is your only advanced technical degree, you must have also completed a bachelor's degree or higher (or foreign equivalent) at an accredited college or university with major study in an appropriate technical field of engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics. (You must submit copies of official or non-official transcripts with your application showing major field and date degree conferred)

SUB-DISCIPLINE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
In addition to the Basic Education requirement, all applicants must meet the Sub-Discipline Specialized Experience requirements below under one of the designated sub-disciplines: Pilots, Flight Test, Medical Doctors, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering and Operations. You should select the discipline you best qualify for based on the majority of your work experience.

For each discipline, applicants must have a minimum of 3 years (or 1,000 Pilot-in-Command hours with at least 850 hours in high performance jet aircraft for Pilots) of progressively responsible, professional experience after the completion of appropriate technical field degree(s). Experience could have been gained after the completion of a qualifying bachelor's degree, though this does not negate the requirement to still possess a higher-level degree.

While you may qualify for multiple disciplines, only one selection below is permitted. Teaching experience, including experience at the K-12 levels, is acceptable if it was in a related technical field and you also meet the initial education requirement.

Specialized Experience

A. Pilot Discipline - to qualify, you must:

Have at least 1,000 hours of Pilot-In-Command time:
- A minimum of 850 hours must be in a high-performance jet aircraft. The remaining hours may be accumulated in aircraft other than high-performance jet aircraft. (Please annotate total hours of high-performance jet aircraft demonstrated in resume)
Complete the Pilot Qualifications Form using the following link and attach as a supporting document to your application - Pilot Qualifications Form

OR

B. Flight Test Discipline - to qualify, you must:

Have completed or be currently enrolled in a Test Pilot School program (nationally or internationally recognized) and will have completed this program by June 2025 (Must submit proof of completion or enrollment).
Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Flight Test. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume)
- Note: Flight Test includes other military experience outside Pilot-in-Command experience or aircraft experience that does not qualify for the Pilot discipline. For example, flight test engineers; helicopter pilots; pilots of non-high performance jet aircraft; navigators, weapons systems officers/operators, back-seat qualified fliers, or other aircraft-related positions that may have led to the completion of Test Pilot School. Applicants with test experience but who have not enrolled in or completed Test Pilot School should select the Engineering and Operations sub-discipline.
Complete the Pilot Qualifications Form using the following link and attach as a supporting document to your application - Pilot Qualifications Form

OR

C. Medical Doctor Discipline - to qualify, you must:

Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a professional medical field of study. Time in residency can count towards experience and must be completed by June 2025. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume)

OR

D. Biological and Medical Science Discipline - to qualify, you must:

Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Biological and Medical Sciences. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume)

OR

E. Physical Science Discipline - to qualify, you must:

Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Physical Science. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume)

OR

F. Engineering and Operations Discipline - to qualify, you must:

Have at least 3 years of professional experience after degree completion in a field related to Engineering and Operations. You must certify that this experience was gained in a field related to this sub-discipline and be able to provide additional certification upon request. (Must be demonstrated in resume)

Education

Education must be attained at an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to satisfy qualifications. You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. Note: If you are selected for this position, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day. You must meet all qualification requirements by 04/02/2024, the closing date of this announcement, with Test Pilot School completion by June 2025, if applicable. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs, and that such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or that full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Translated transcripts are required.

Additional information

Drug Testing: Selectees will be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illegal drug use. As a condition of continued employment, the incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
Background Investigation: Selectees will be required to undergo and pass a thorough background investigation prior to a final offer of employment.
Fitness Testing: Selectees will be required to pass an Agency Physical Fitness Test prior to a final offer of employment. As a condition of continued employment, the incumbent will be subject to periodic fitness testing and must pass the Agency Physical Fitness Test requirements.
Medical and Psychiatric Examination: Selectees will be required to undergo and pass a thorough medical and psychiatric examination prior to a final offer of employment. As a condition of continued employment, the incumbent is subject to periodic medical and psychiatric examinations and must be able to meet the medical and psychiatric standard requirements for the position.
Swimming Test: Astronaut Candidates will be required to pass a swimming test during the first month of training.
Long Duration Missions: Long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station can last 12 months or longer. Training for long-duration missions is very arduous and takes approximately two to three years. This training requires extensive travel, including long periods away in other countries training with NASA's international partners.
Hazardous Environment: Due to the strenuous nature of the astronaut duties and the associated training programs, selected candidates will be exposed to physically taxing activities (e.g. being in confined spaces, being under water for extended periods of training, and working in potentially dangerous situations).

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for online Assessments here: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

This is an interdisciplinary position. The position may be established in any one of a variety of federal occupations/series: engineering, science, or mathematics. The specific classification will depend on the qualifications of the selectees.

Selected astronaut candidates are placed on 30-month time limited appointments and upon successful completion of astronaut candidate training, will be placed on permanent appointments.

Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applying to the Astronaut Candidate program is a multi-stage process. Initially, you will be evaluated based on how well you meet the minimum qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your minimum qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide to the online application, which assess critical requirements of the astronaut job. Based on the answers you provided on the initial online assessment, you may be asked to complete additional online assessments. During subsequent stages of the selection process, you may be asked to complete in-person assessments, simulations, role plays and interviews.

Throughout the selection process, you will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate competencies related to the astronaut job such as:

Communicate information and ideas via written, oral, and visual media
Make informed and sound decisions in challenging situations to accomplish mission goals
Sustain motivation, display initiative, and high standards of ethical conduct
Relate well to others including those from varied backgrounds and in different situations
Work well with others to achieve goals both as a leader and a follower
Learn and utilize complex technical information (e.g., troubleshoot, diagnose, analyze, and identify system malfunctions to determine the source and cause of the problem)

Additionally, written application materials will be evaluated by subject matter experts using the competencies above, as well as:

Applicability and strength of the applicant's educational preparation
Relevance and diversity of the applicant's work experience, with a priority on operational experience
Strength of the candidate's technical experience in their field of expertise
Demonstrated experience working and performing on a team

You must complete all required steps in the process to be considered. Intentionally misrepresenting yourself, overstating qualifications on any of the application materials, assessment procedures, cheating or use of AI will result in removal from consideration.

In order to be rated as meeting the minimum qualifications, we must be able to determine from your application package that you have the education and specialized experience that is required. Applicants who have qualifying experience performed on a less-than-full-time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

Waivers are not granted for degree or experience requirements. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements by the closing date of the announcement, with Test Pilot School and medical residency completion by June 2025, if applicable.

Interviews, medical and psychiatric screening and additional assessments will be required for applicants under final consideration. Selected applicants will be designated astronaut candidates and will undergo a training and evaluation period lasting approximately two years. Selection into the Astronaut Candidate Program does not guarantee selection as an astronaut. Final selection as an astronaut will depend upon satisfactory completion of the training and evaluation period. Graduation from the Astronaut Candidate Program will require successful completion of the following: spacecraft systems training, Extravehicular Activity (EVA) skills training, robotics skills training, Russian language training, aircraft flight readiness training, and team skills training, among others.